During the presentation of medals for piping and dancing a sturdily-built individual in kilt and tartan offered in a loud voice to play any piper in the room for £50, but the offer was ignored.
"I'll put the money up," shouted the Highlander, and again issued his challenge.
People in front turned round and said "Hush" reprovingly; others roared "Shut up," while a small minority applauded, and cried "Hear, hear!" The author of the disturbance became more and more demonstrative.
A brother Scot came to eject him, and both measured their length on the floor, and rolled fighting near the doorway.
On being lifted to the perpendicular, the man in the kilt, finding himself borne still nearer the exit, wrought strenuously with his fists on every face he could reach, and things began to look unpleasant.
Finally he was overpowered and hustled into the open air.
As the Early Settlers' Hall was three-parts full of ladies, the incident is to be regretted.
• Consternation prevailed in the majority of banks and offices at Invercargill on Wednesday on account of the non-appearance of 20 or 30 clerks who had not returned from their Christmas holidays.
They had gone over to Stewart Island on Christmas Eve, and were to return by cutters on Tuesday evening.
The heavy contrary gales which sprang up prevented the cutters from making the trip, and so drivers of the quill were at a premium.
Two holiday trippers, after waiting up all Tuesday night in consequence of a possible transit by a daring skipper, got away at about 4am, but owing to the weather conditions the vessel did not reach the Bluff until 12.30pm, and her passengers did not get to Invercargill till after 2 o'clock.
• A travelling correspondent informs us that the dry season has injuriously affected the harvest prospects in different parts of North Otago.
In the Ngapara district, he says, the crops are becoming prematurely yellow, and they have not filled out well.
Unless rain comes soon the prospects for winter feed on the Papakaio Plains and at the Stewart Settlement are unfavourable. - ODT, 4.1.1910.
